Latest new posts from ALL categories of The Lawrence Times:
Lawrence news, state news, Community Voices, Lawrence Life, obituaries and more.
(Please note that opinion pieces are included in this list, marked as columns or letters to the Times. Not all posts linked on this page were written or produced by the Lawrence Times staff.)
August Rudisell / Lawrence Times file photo
Dangerously cold temperatures headed for Lawrence; winter storm possible
New Year’s weekend will see frigid temperatures and possibly a winter storm as an Arctic front reaches northeastern Kansas.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Judge rescinds expungement of Baldwin City police sergeant’s criminal record; wants to consider second case
Updated article: A Douglas County judge who had initially granted the petition to expunge false impersonation charges from the record of a Baldwin City police sergeant reconsidered that decision Thursday, taking another pending expungement into account.
Screenshot, Lawrenceks.org
Reminder: City of Lawrence to resume water shutoffs, late fees soon
The city will soon resume water shutoffs, but those who are behind on their bills can request a payment plan.
Kansas appeals court overturns prison instructor’s conviction for unwanted touching of inmate
A victim of Tomas Co’s sexual harassment and unwanted groping wanted him to understand what it was like to feel powerless and abused. His conviction was overturned based on the definition of “lewd.”
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Old West Lawrence traffic project set for open house; staff to gather feedback for permanent installations
The city in January will host an open house to discuss the ongoing traffic project that has placed barriers throughout Old West Lawrence streets, and to gather feedback for permanent installations.
KMUW/File Photo
Death of Wichita teen who died in custody ruled a homicide
An autopsy says Cedric Lofton suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained at Sedgwick County’s juvenile facility last fall.
Mackenzie Clark / The Lawrence Times
Baldwin City police sergeant seeks expungement of criminal records in Douglas and Lyon counties
A Douglas County judge is expected to decide this week whether to seal the arrest record of a Baldwin City police sergeant.
Obituary: Mary Lucille Bailey
Mary Lucille Bailey, 12/12/1926 – 12/14/2021
KDHE reporting 10,000 Delta cases, two dozen Omicron cases of COVID-19 in Kansas
Testing in Kansas confirmed more than 10,000 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and 25 cases of the Omicron mutation, and public health reports showed more than 1,000 hospitalizations and 250 fatalities linked to the virus so far this month.
Sounds of explosions in Lawrence prompt many questions but few answers
Some residents of Lawrence have been rattled — figuratively and sometimes literally — by sounds of explosions recently.
Ken Lassman
Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 27, 2021-Jan. 2, 2022
This eastern gamagrass provides a native grass burst to mirror fireworks overhead as a way to bring in the new year. The calendar year is a human construct recognized by no other life forms, but happy new year anyway!
Governor’s task force outlines more than 120 ideas for improving equity, justice
The final report of Gov. Laura Kelly’s racial equity and justice task force calls for repeal of state laws disproportionately affecting families of color, health care reform, increased law enforcement training and more.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Burglary reported at Kansas Sampler in Lawrence
A window was shattered at Kansas Sampler in downtown Lawrence in a reported burglary on Christmas.
Delta, Omicron variants of COVID-19 slicing a wide swath into lives of Kansans
The extended COVID-19 pandemic is driving young health care workers away from the medical field and compelling experienced doctors and nurses to retire. Omicron is a reminder that it’s far from over.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Updates to Bowersock Dam reveal remnants of the past, promise power for the future (Column)
In recent weeks, the Kaw River has been lowered at the Bowersock Dam. Ancient shoreline structures have been revealed and huge, deep expanses of shale, millions of years old, have been exposed.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Fire marshal to investigate blaze that destroyed home south of Lawrence city limits
The Kansas State Fire Marshal will investigate a blaze that left no one injured, but demolished a single-family home just south of Lawrence Tuesday afternoon.
Audit of Kansas foster care provider scrutinizes financial controls, IT costs, CEO travel, PPP loan
Former Saint Francis Ministries CEO Robert Smith exploited a lack of financial controls and board oversight to drain the nonprofit’s resources on an IT project and escalating management expenses that included use of taxpayer funds for personal travel, liquor and entertainment.
Contributed Photo
Ellen Bertels: Name Change Project simplifies a complex, emotional process for transgender Kansans (Column)
“In the long term, I hope to create a network of attorneys who can provide competent, affirming, and affordable services for low-income trans Kansans seeking all sorts of legal support,” Ellen Bertels writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Mackenzie Clark/The Lawrence Times
Cases against Rontarus Washington Jr., Albert Wilson dismissed
The Douglas County district attorney has dismissed long-pending cases against Rontarus Washington Jr. and Albert Wilson, the office announced Wednesday.
Heartland Community Health Center/Contributed Photo
Heartland Community Health Center announces Julie Branstrom as new CEO
Lawrence’s safety net clinic has selected an internal candidate, Julie Branstrom, as its new permanent CEO.
Lawrence Times graphic
More than 200 new COVID-19 cases reported in Douglas County since Monday
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has received 210 reports of new COVID-19 cases since Monday, according to the department’s Wednesday update, bringing the total of known active cases to 908.
Lawrence Schools Foundation/Contributed Photo
Free State High School teacher honored with Dedication to Education Award for ‘never giving up on students’
Erin McDaneld-Campbell, a Free State High School special education teacher, was selected to receive the 2021 Dedication to Education Award and the $5,000 check that goes with it.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s winter emergency shelter ‘in danger of closing’ without volunteer support, city says; paid positions available
The city’s winter emergency shelter is in dire need of volunteers to staff the Community Building on nights when the temperature drops below 35°. Part-time positions paying $18 per hour are also available.
Lawrence City Commission hits pause on plan for turf soccer fields
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday deferred plans to join forces with a local soccer club to build artificial turf fields in town over concerns that the club wanted some exclusivity built into the agreement.
